Kiva

Name Loan Amount Loan Term/Start Date Country/ Partner You Loaned Paid Back Loan Status
Amenze Marian $500.00 8 months
Jan 11, 2007 Nigeria

Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO) $25.00 $25.00
Aboubakar Youssouf $1,125.00 12 months
Feb 17, 2008 Togo

FECECAV $25.00 $4.18 Active
Rin Den $1,000.00 18 months
Feb 17, 2008 Cambodia

CREDIT MFI -- World Relief $25.00 $2.80 Active
Brenda Elizabeth Estrada Campos $600.00 6 months
Feb 17, 2008 Mexico

Admic Nacional $25.00 $8.33 Active
Alexander Kochnev $1,200.00 8 months
Feb 06, 2008 Ukraine

HOPE Intl- Nadiya Ukraine $25.00 $6.25 Active

BBQ to feed the Homeless

Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 5:21 PM
Subject: Feed the Homeless


Not sure about the logistics and didnt think about it until after last Friday but a BBQ one Friday would be great.

I guess we could still do one in September.

I guess we would need a BBQ or I guess we could cook at the church and bring the BBQ food up.

Could be relatively easy--just need enough food to feed some 200

Thinking about it for Sept 28th?

Gerry

February's 4th Friday Feed the Homeless

Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 9:07 PM
Subject: 4th Friday


Just checking before organizing for next week if there is anything special for that night?

Any groups, cooks, etc?

I plan to have the usual 14-18 casseroles or so

Gerry

Fed 245 Homeless Last night

Goal was to feed 200 last night--I think highest before was 180 or so--but 245 passed through the doors last night. I suppose if you build it they will come, especially on a cold, damp, and rainy night. There continued to be a nice flow in and out all night--perhaps as people left they told there buddies to check out the feast.

There was surely a truckload of items brought up to Baltimore last night: Over 8 big coolers of soda/ water/ juice boxes; gigantic table of desserts/ cotton candy; had to be over 35 casseroles incl some 8 of meatballs and sausages to go with tons of submarine rolls. Each casseroles especially the meatballs and sausage should have fed 8-10 people so those 240 ate well with food piled high. Don't believe a crumb was leftover.

They also received a bag to add fruit, sandwiches, etc while going through the buffet line. When they left each received a bag of snacks/ toiletries as well as bag of winter items: sweatshirts/ hat/ gloves/ etc. All were very grateful!!!

THANKS to all whom helped in any way. On top of the 245 served, there had to be over 50 whom came out to serve.

Who is ready for next month: January 26 ?

Keeping Christ in Christmas

Gerry

Blessings on those who serve the poor

Blessings on those who serve the poor
Serving poor may be The Right Thing To Do; but the Bible also associates it with material and spiritual reward. Here we'll look at the benefits promised to those who serve the poor; in the next section we'll examine the consequences of not doing so.

Prov. 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

Jer. 22:16 "Did not your father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is that not what it means to know Me?" declares the LORD.

Deut. 15:10. You shall give generously to [your poor brother], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.

Jer. 7:5-7. "For, if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever."

Is. 58:10. "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."

Luke 14:12-14. "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Luke 12:44. "Sell your possessions and give alms; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Mt. 19:20ff. The young man said to Him, "All these commands I have kept; what am I still lacking?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Commentary:Americans like money; the American dream is about being rich. No wonder we're susceptible to religious quacks who promise riches to those who believe in God.

We do find promises of reward in the Bible-- to those who serve the poor. God's making a very simple proposal here: "You help the poor, and I'll repay it."

Full disclosure: there's a little bait-and-switch going on. Jesus promises treasure in heaven. In the sociology of religion game, we call this spiritualization. In plain English, it means that Jesus is asking us to go way past our comfort level in giving things away. And in not getting them back.

Who are the poor, by the way? Among our rationalizations is the feeling that the actual poor aren't people we really have to pay attention to. They may be of different races, or not speak our language, or aren't moral enough for us; they may be illegal immigrants. (Imagine that, a class of human beings that are illegal. Imagine explaining that to God.)

God doesn't want to hear these excuses; he specifically commands us to help the stranger, the alien, the sojourner. Jesus' command on dinner parties couldn't be clearer: the people you need to help are not the people like you, the people you like, the people who can repay you. As for racial prejudice, note that the first person in the gospel of John to whom Jesus clearly confesses to being the Messiah is a Samaritan; Samaritans were despised by the orthodox Jews of the time. (And for that matter, she was a woman, and an adulterer.)

Can you give too much? We believe in moderation in all things. Unfortunately, we get this idea from the Greeks, not the Bible. Jesus asks for immoderate giving.

Feed the Homeless Day

All in order to go!

Just returned from church and there are some 11 casseroles in the fridge and 2 trays of brownies.

Ill be back at 3p to start cooking. May be a struggle to cook all so if possible if you can cook and bring up before 4p that may be the best.

We will be packing 200 bags of winter items--someone dropped off some real nice winter coats yesterday. Plus 200 sweatshirts/ gloves/ hats/ scarves/ etc. Also, packing in another bag: candy/ gum/ snacks/ toiletries/ etc. So, each will get a bag of each.

I think we have enough coolers for everything--if you have an extra let me know.

Also, I think we have enough room to transport all--if you have room let me know--tons of stuff.

All should ready to be served by 5p. Again dinner will include: salads from Beef'O'Brady's / casseroles/ desserts/ fruit.

Jet Services/ Aramark/ Ravens sending over: 250 rolls/ hot coffee and cocoa/ fruit/ cotton candy.

Upon leaving is when each will get a 2 bags of goodies as well as a to-go sandwich meal from Beef'O'Brady.

Gerry

STILL NEED for Casserole Dinner

********UPDATE*******

Still need everything--not turning away anything

Looking good:
hats, gloves, scarves, earmuffs, razors, toothbrush, socks, salad course

NEEDS:
$$$: monetary donation

plastic grocery bags

Casseroles/ entree/ dinner--best if you can cook in your own kitchen and bring to church or my house by 4p on the 22nd

Desserts: Christmas cookies/ cakes/ brownies/ etc

Toiletries

Candy/ chips/ chocolate--this will be in there goodie bag

Will serve at about 5p on that Friday the 22nd

Goal is to serve 200 and have a gift bag for each filled with goodies for them to take with them.

Concentrating on quantity to be able to give each a bag filled. Haven't been pushing some of the bigger ticket items: backpack/ sweater/ sweats/ thermals. Also, thinking if you have gently worn items of the aforementioned I am sure they would be appreciated as well.

Thanks Again

Gerry

BackPack for the Homeless

So, it came down to this in my winter bags =

* 1 Used Backpack $1.50 (American Family Thrift Store)
*
Wool Army Blanket $2.70 (Ebay)
* 8 x 10 foot Tarp $3.00 (WalMart)
* 1 Litre bottled water $.50 (Family Dollar)
* 1 Toothbrush $1.00 (Family Dollar)
* 1 Tube Toothpaste $1.00 (Family Dollar)
* 1 Bar of Soap $.25 (Family Dollar)
* 2 Cans Tuna in oil $1.00 (Family Dollar)
* 1 Can Mandarin Orange Slices, for Vitamin C $.50 (Family Dollar)
* 2 Cans sardines in oil $1.00 (Family Dollar)
* 1 Quart Can Castleberry Beef Stew $2.00 (Family Dollar)
* 1 Heavy Sweat Shirt $2.00 (American Family Thrift Store)
* 1 Heavy pair Sweat Pants $2.00 (American Family Thrift Store)
* 1 Knit Cap $.50 (American Family Thrift Store )
* 1 Pair Gloves $1.00 (American Family Thrift Store)
* 1 Can Opener $.50 (River of Life Thrift Store)
* 1 Bible $Free (River of Life Thrift Store) Total ===== $18.95